Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1887-05-12

stars nearest the center as the radius OF the
cluster exceeds ,0C0 oo0 900 miles. This would be
shed upon the center would be f1fteen times the
amount shed from the first twelve stars, or about
tss es as amount ensI s sne tSs mocn
cluster would be above the horizon at once, and 30
the illumination OF the night sky on our imaginary
world would be fifteen times as bright as the light
OF the full moon upon the earth.
The number OF stars visible to rs with the IN.
aided eye on clear night Is not over 3 00O, ana
the great majority OF these are so faint that they
require some attention to be seen at ell. How
contemplate, then, Is the starry armament pre-
heavens in this sun Cluster Of Hercules whers
more than twice many stars as we can zee blaze
nightly with radiance 80 brilliant that the faint.
ess o. them are six times as bright as the greatest
Indeed, the light Of all these. astonishingly
Drlgnt stars dinused In the atmosphere OF cur I'm
agnafy planet would be so great as largely to rob
the ind stars OF their briiance 5ust as the
light OF the moon or the blaze OF the electric lights
upon the Brooklyn bridge serves TO partially eace
Another eject OF this splendid display Of stars
would pc to shut out from the view OF the tnnabl-
tants OF the center Of the cluster all the outside
universe. In the Hood OF light poured from the
members OF the cluster the other stars beyond
the system would be, so to speak. shut up in a
little universe OF their own, knowing nothing OF the
greater universe beyond, in which we see their clus
Tor noating like mote in the SunbeamS.
It remains to consider briefly what would be
the condition OF things upon world circling
aIOunu O0k OK tne stars AG the outer eoge OF
the cluster. Here, as q moments thought shows,
the appearances presented would be very DIFF
ierent from those at the center OF the cluster.
Less than hall OF the sky visible from such
OF the cluster, while the other half would be, 90
10 speak, open to the universe outside. The APP
pearanee OF its night sky would depend upon the
position Of the planet in its orbit and also upon
the situation and Inclination Of that orbit with
reference to the cluster At certain seasons
haDitants OF such world might have blazing
nocturnal spectacle like that enjoyed by world
at the center OF the cluster or might sec half OF
their visible armament occupied by those splendid
stars while the other half was almost blank by
contrast; and at other seasons the stars OF the
would look or into the same starry universe
that we behold. Or the orbit OF the planet might
be 80 situated that the clustered spiendors we
have described would be visible from only one OF
Its hemiSpheres, SO that the Inhabitants OF the
other hemisphere, hearing the fame OF this great
celestial display and desiring to behold 1t, would
have 70 journey half around their globe to crafty
their curiosity. as we have to go into the south
ern hemisphere to see the Southern Cross the
Magellanic clouds, and other celebrated sights OF
the auStral sky.
But, somebody may ask, can Inhabited worlds
exist In such system as that described? We
certainly have no reason TO think it impossible
understand just how the cluster itself exists The
complicated attractions prevailing among its
members put 1t beyond the power Of mathemati-
Cal analy to unravel their orbital motions. But
facts are stronger than theories and our eyes u.s.
sure US that the cluster Is there. Moreover it is
by no means the only phenomenon OF the kind
IN the heavens There are many star clusters,
some as compact as this one in Hercules. As to
the question OF life in Them It perhaps neither
be proved nor disproved. But it is more agreeable
to the mind. and more In accordance with the pro-
greSS OF science which tends continually to eSIab
lish the unity OF the physical universe, to believe
that Intelligent beings enjoy the spend0rs OF these
distant capitals OF space than to think OF them as
barren and tenant!ess-mere spectral lights amid
the ''SanAr0S OF creation"